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Lightsquared mobile network - GPS interference

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5361 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/09/2011 : 18:12:46

While it's a long and complicated story involving 10s of billions of dollars of venture capital, this week Lightsquared responded to criticism by military, the airlines, civilian authorities and manufacturers that they cannot proceed with their plan to deploy their network because it will, without question, interfere with all GPS receivers.

Lightsquared responded by saying that it is the fault of the commercial and military GPS manufacturers for not installing a 25 cent brickwall filter to allow the devices to reject adjacent channel interference. They never expected to deal with this type, power level and pervasive nature of the potential interference.

Nonetheless, we are where we are: the GPS industry is unable and unwilling to fix the problem while Lightsquared has made a huge investment and has a powerful lobby, and thus is too committed to relent.

As I said, there is a lot more to the story. We may be on the verge of taking the best and most reliable geolocation system in the world and turning it into a "best efforts" system.

The story is far from settled, however we may all be asked to buy new GPS receivers if Lightsquared gets its way.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain � Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 07/09/2011 18:13:48

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 06:33:50

I did a little rummaging and found [url="http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/LightSquared_GPS_Issue_FCC_204906-1.html"]this[/url], among other articles...

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 07:05:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">
LightSquared says that by moving its rollout program to the lower frequency, its signals only affect "high precision" GPS devices (which apparently includes WAAS-enabled aviation GPSs) and that's a small price to pay for the benefits of its service, which will bring wireless broadband to 95 percent of Americans.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Once I buy a GPS receiver, the signals and service are free.

So, LightSquared....once I buy your receiver, will your broadband be free? Hmm? If not, go pound sand and get the $%#@ away from our GPS.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 07/10/2011 : 07:45:35

I think I mentioned this a month or so ago when BoatUS publicized it but the preliminary studies weren't finished yet. I'm sure that Lightsquared has plenty of money and political clout, but so do the gps associated industries and military gps is likely to trump.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 05:10:09

[...Start rant...]

Common sense would dictate denying LightSquared's new entry into the crowded radio-frquency spectrum and make them re-tool at a safer distance from the airline/military/public GPS frequency.

However, the company could fight this through the courts. The recent rulings by the corporate-friendly Supreme Court suggest that any public safety concerns and even critical US national military interests could be subordinated to opinions slanted by the usual bribes and gifts to some justices.

[...Rant over...]

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 06:44:40

I just hope cooler heads prevail and it's not one of those situations where it has to fail, sometimes spectacularly, before they realize it was a bad idea.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5361 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 21:11:20

When people have to die because gamers need to play "Angry Birds" on Lightsquared's system (who stand to gain the $100+ billions mentioned), something is wrong in America.

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 07/11/2011 : 23:41:09

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Joe Diver
 I just hope cooler heads prevail...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">Pursuant to forum policy, the following is not political opinion--it is simple historical fact and its logical conclusions.

The US Supreme Court just gave Corporate America, Corporate Australia/UK, the Chinese Governmental/Industrial Complex, and other "entities" control over the hearts and minds of America's professional politicians and their appointees (such as on the FCC). Money decides political careers. Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy established in the bitterly divided Citizens United decision that AT&T, Lightsquared, Sony, Rupert Murdock, and the Chinese, among others, can easily overwhelm anything you, I, and all of our friends and relatives can do to influence the careers of "our" professional politicians. You can look it up.

Consequently, today's GPS units will probably have huge dark areas by 2013. We, the Pentagon, the airline industry, the shipping industry, and over a quarter of a billion smartphone owners will have to buy new technology, further spurring job growth in China, and job losses for politicians and FCC appointees who tried to stand up to Lightsquared and its stakeholders and partners. Who knows--the US might have to launch new GPS satellites so we can have the bandwidth that will give us "limitless and unimaginable possibilities." It's part of our evolution.

The world will continue to circle the sun. Get out your Visa card and bend over... You'll be in good company.

Edited by - on

Tomas Kruska
Admiral

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Czech Republic
522 Posts

Response Posted - 07/12/2011 : 11:31:24

Interesting, but still not approved by FCC http://www.pnt.gov/interference/lightsquared/.

I hope that european Galileo will be finished soon, but that means of new device either.

Edited by - Tomas Kruska on 07/12/2011 11:34:38

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2011 : 08:17:48

I received an e-mail from BoatUS with a link to send a customized message to my Congressman and Senators. In my message, I pointed out the use of GPS by emergency responders as well as other drivers, boaters, pilots, etc. FYI, here's a response from my Congressman, Joe Courtney, that provides some perspective...

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Dear Mr. Bristle,

Thank you for contacting me about LightSquared and the potential for interference with GPS. I appreciate your comments and having the benefit of your views.

LightSquared, a new company planning to offer wireless broadband through a combination of satellite and terrestrial stations, received a waiver by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on January 26, 2011. The waiver is a significant step for the company to begin building the necessary infrastructure to operate a nationwide wireless service.

However, I agree there is reason to be concerned with LightSquared's new approach to wireless broadband. The section of spectrum LightSquared would operate in is the L Band 1 (1525 – 1559 MHz) which is adjacent to spectrum allocated for GPS use (2559 – 1610 MHz). The GPS industry has stated that the terrestrial stations will overpower GPS devices and leave them completely inoperable when near the stations.

What is important to point out is that LightSquared is still in the preliminary stages and that they will not be able to move forward if they create interference with GPS devices. The January 26 waiver issued by the FCC included specific limitations that prohibit LightSquared from commencing commercial service on its L-band frequencies until the FCC, after consultation with National Telecommunication and Information Association (NTIA), concludes that the harmful interference concerns have been resolved. The FCC has ordered a working group, in which the GPS industry is invited to participate, to work through the GPS and other outstanding issues as LightSquared continues to move forward.

Expanding wireless broadband is extremely important for the economy and our nation's ability to remain globally competitive. In order to maintain leadership in the market, we must be prepared for the 25 fold expected growth in global data traffic between 2010 and 2015, and right now we do not have the available spectrum to do that. However, to expand wireless broadband while sacrificing GPS would be extremely counterproductive. In the House of Representatives, the Appropriations Committee, Oversight and Government Reform Committee, and the Energy and Commerce Committee have all taken action to review the potential of GPS interference from LightSquared and are closely following actions by the both the company and the FCC. While I do not sit on either of these committees, please know that I will continue to follow this issue closely as it important to get it right the first time.

Again, thank you for sharing your views on this issue with me. Should you have any additional comments or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me in the future. For more information on my work in Congress, please visit my website at courtney.house.gov and sign up for my e-newsletter at courtney.house.gov/forms/emailsignup . You can also connect with me at facebook.com/joecourtney or receive updates from twitter.com/connecticutjoe .<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2011 : 09:41:06

That's a pretty cool form letter....provides reassurance that they're not going to just "let this happen"....I hope anyway.

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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5361 Posts

Response Posted - 07/15/2011 : 21:50:44

That's why Joe keeps on getting re-elected. He makes his constituents feel like they matter (edit)whether he really gives a royal flying "fig" or not!.

Edited by - Voyager on 07/15/2011 21:52:40

Stu Jackson C34
Admiral

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844 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2011 : 07:57:40

Then why not try to do something about it?

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6455.0.html

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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9076 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2011 : 12:41:59

The latest: After testimony before a House committee from NOAA, USGS, USDOT, and NASA...

In a ruling issued just last week, the FCC told LightSquared that it may not commence service until "the Commission...finds that GPS interference concerns have been satisfactorily resolved."

Stay tuned...

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/20/2011 12:43:16

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2011 : 12:51:45

I read somewhere else that Lightsquared abandoned its plans to use the bandwith that was adjacent to the GPS signals, and had already purchased/traded bandwidth further away in the spectrum. So GPS interference should be a dead issue.

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